Thora Bend

A Celebration of the Life and Faith of Sister Thora Holston Bend Necrology She was a blessing from God from the time she began her life journey on February 25, 1927 to the parentage of the late Will and Fannie Smallwood Holston in Margaret, Alabama. She was a fighter. She overcame a childhood of being sickly since being born with an infection known as Class Three resulting in the loss of her left eye. She grew up playing basketball and baseball with her brothers and the other boys. She completed her elementary schooling in St. Clair County followed by her attending Fairfield Industrial High School until graduation. She continued her education at Miles College where she received a Bachelor of Education degree. She was employed with the St. Clair County School Board as a teacher for 30 years. She invited Christ into her life at an early age at Beulah Baptist Church, Margaret, Alabama. As a youth she also served faithfully in the Alabama Congress of Christian Education. She faithfully served as a member at Antioch Baptist Church, Pipe Shop for 60 years as a Deaconess, Treasure of the Music Department, President of Missions and Matrons, Youth Supervisor Progress Choir, Sunday School Teacher, and Bible School Teacher. Director and member of the Israel Williams Scholarship Fund until her health failed. She also served in the Jefferson County District Association as secretary. Member of Fraternal Order of Eastern Stars, Faithful Chapter 232. She was united in marriage to the late Talton Bend on June 25, 1950 and to this union was born two daughters, Towanda Deion and Sonya Natasha. She began her new life with Christ on Wednesday morning, October 30, 2013. She leaves to cherish her memory two daughters, Towanda B. Jones (Roosevelt C.) and Sonya B. Yarbrough (Pastor Michael); 3 grandchildren, Talton B. Jones, Jheral J. Yarbrough and Areyelle M. Yarbrough; a brother, Willie Cornelius Holston (Teresa); a sister-in-law, Arcola Bend King and a host of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Talton Bend; 2 brothers, Buddy and Willie Holston; 2 sisters, Bernice Young and Estelle Duncan and a grandson, David A. Jones